Prototyping

As my background is in 3D (computer graphics) I've developed all the designs, animation and mechanical, in that media. Until you experience something in the real world though, you have no idea if it's going to work. Now that the animation is complete I'll be prototyping all the physical elements prior to final fabrication.

The image below shows a single segment prototype of the zoetrope (one of twelve) As the top of the machine will be covered the animation will receive little natural light. Consequently a series of LEDs provide illumination above and below. These create pinpoint light so they require diffusion. This is achieved via a perspex shade. The prototype allows me to experiment with brightness and quantity of LED as well as diffusion.